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Letters: Zinke is out to sink our monument

Las Cruces Sun-News
Published 6:02 p.m. MT Aug. 16, 2017

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Ryan Zinke, the Secretary of the Interior, gave a press conference at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, Thursday July 27, 2017. During the press conference Zinke described some of the tour he took from the air early Thursday morning, along with comments about the review process of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument.(Photo: Josh Bachman/Sun-News)Buy Photo

I am sorry, Ryan Zinke stinks as the secretary of the Interior. He is following the Trump, Pearce, American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and GOP line to sink our national monument.

To understand Zinke's idea of national monuments, you only have to review what he secretly said to ALEC: From Missoula News - "What Zinke said to the members of ALEC remains undisclosed. According to Zinke's official schedule, the speech was "not open to the press." His office told the Indy via email that there are no transcripts of Zinke's remarks, and that no prepared drafts of his speech exist, since Zinke "doesn't use prepared speeches."

"The Secretary spoke about getting back to traditional multiple-use management of federal lands, his commitment to maintaining federal ownership of federal lands, and restoring trust between the federal government and local communities," spokesperson Heather Swift wrote when asked for specific topics that Zinke addressed."

Zinke is trying to hoodwink supporters of our national monument. There needs to be a lawsuit to stop the dismantling and shrinking of our national monument by these selfish and unscrupulous politicians to the determinant of our community and New Mexico.

Greg Lennes

Las Cruces

Stop North Korea from using, not developing

Obviously there are no good options for dealing with North Korea’s little fat man leader. The latest UN sanctions may work, but don’t hold your breath. If enforced they will certainly economically hurt North Korean citizens, but over the years their leadership has shown minimal concern for the welfare of its people.

If they fail; what next?

Recall that during the Cold War with the USSR, Mutually Assured Destruction with devastating nuclear missiles targeted at each other, worked. The USSR and US leaders were rational, and in the end, the US prevailed with the economic collapse of the USSR.

Many suggest that North Korea’s little fat man is not rational. I totally disagree. From North Korea’s vantage, he is totally rational, and it’s highly unlikely he has a death wish.

So, if negations or sanctions fail to haul in North Korea’s missiles and nuclear program, Mutually Assured Destruction, as a last resort, would curtail North Korea deploying such weapons.

Let the little fat man, North Korea’s military, and its citizens know that North Korea is being watched by satellites and other means every second of every day. Further, let them know that if we detect so much as a pop bottle rocket leaving North Korea soil, North Korea and its people will cease to exist with an attack of numerous nuclear warheads.

China objects? Then control Kim Jong-Un!

I highly doubt the little fat man would challenge such a threat.

America’s new sheriff in town has already demonstrated you better not cross the red line.

To me this is more agreeable then using our military to take out their nuclear and missiles with pre-emptive strikes. But simultaneously deploy numerous anti-missile defense systems, just in case.

Robert K. Murray

Las Cruces

Oppossng views on climate were refreshing

The August 8, 2017 edition of the Sun-News “Your Opinion” section was a delightful reassurance to me amid these polarizing times. Side by side I found opinion pieces by Robert Endlich and Gordon Hill on the subject of global warming.

I happen to know both of these men. They are highly educated and, in my experience, are of great integrity. Both men are true to their ideas – they are not expressing them for any kind of selfish gain that I have ever seen. If you read through their opinion pieces, you will see that, while they mention other opinion writers, they do not stoop to casting aspersions about character or motives.

These two people keep the discussion centered on ideas and facts, almost like (well, actually like) a debate among scholars. Ah, if only most political candidates would give us as much. I will not express my own opinions here on the subject of anthropomorphic global warming; instead I will read with great interest what these intelligent people have to say about it, and objectively make up my mind. The Sun-News, in classic style, has brought to us “The Marketplace of Ideas”, and I sincerely thank you for it. Gordon and Bob, write on!